Some would say that admitting mistakes is a mistake, but I’m inclined to disagree particularly because I realized my error in time to catch myself.
Thomas McGough and Patrick Dempsey sold land to John DeMoss on 17 October 1803. This document was recorded in Harford County Maryland, Deed Book HD R, p. 0172 (obtained digitally on MDLANDREC, http://www.mdlandrec.net, 13 March 2016). The deed states in part
“…Witnesseth that the said Thomas McGough and Patrick Dempsey for and in Consideration of the sum of eight hundred and eighty nine Spanish milld Dollars of the value of seven shillings and six pence each current money of Maryland four hundred Dollars being paid in hand and bonds with security for the remainder by the said John Demoss before the signing sealing and delivering of these presents the receit whereof they the said Thomas McGough and Patrick Dempsey doth hereby acknowledge…”
The amount of the transaction was stated in Spanish Milled Dollars, but an amount in “money of Maryland” was also given. I made a quick set of notes that indicated:
- the amount transacted in Spanish Milled Dollars was 889 of those dollars
- the amount in Maryland Money was $400
- each Spanish Milled Dollar was worth 7 shilling and 6 pence “current money”
And then I went online in search of information on Maryland Dollars and Spanish Milled Dollars and was going to convert the Spanish Milled Dollars into Maryland dollars, particularly 889 of the Spanish Milled Dollars into 400 Maryland Dollars. I could not do it.
Then I went back and re-read the portion of the deed that is extracted here. The $400 of Maryland money was Demoss’ down payment on the property. He signed an agreement to pay the rest–that’s to what the “bonds and security” are referring.
The money amounts should not be equivalent. The $400 was not the entire value of the property 889 Spanish Milled Dollars. That’s why DeMoss signed essentially a promissory note for the balance.
We all need to read and remained focused.
I got so carried away with the varying types of money that I did not pay attention to the actual document as closely as I should have.
2 Responses
If a well-known, adept, researcher admits he made an error…it feels better to the amateur, struggling researcher to know that they are not the only one to have trouble deciding on what the clues say, and what the clues mean. A major reassurance to the amateur!
Thanks for the positive comments, Kristy.
Anyone can make a mistake. That’s why it’s always important to review conclusions and interpretations one makes. Often it’s easier to see if some time has elapsed between making your initial conclusions and reviewing them.